Automatic heat-signaling device



(N ovModel.)

W. G.DAY. AUTOMATIC HEAT SIGNALING DEVIGE.

Patented Maf. a, 1892.

Fig Z VVITNEEEE'E* UNITED .STATES PATENT i UFFICE.

IILLARD Gr. DAY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

AUTOMATIC HEAT-SIGNALING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 470,478, dated March 8,1892. Application filed March 18, 1891. Serial No. 385,450. (No modell)To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that-I, WILLARD G.`DAY, of

`the ciiy of Baltimore and State of Maryland,

have invented certain Improvements in Automatic Heat-Signaling Devices,of which the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is anexterior front view automatic call-box, which may serve a four-v of theinvention, and Fig. 2 a similar View with a supplemental face whichconstitutes a thermostat removed. Fig. 3 is a front view of theinvention with the thermostat and the outer portion of the box removed.'Fig. 4 is a sectional side view of the invention, taken on the dottedline a: :n Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a seotional side view of a part ot' thebox, together with some elements of the internal mechanism. Fig. 6i' isa similar view showing the outer plate in a warped position..

The object of myinvention is to provide an fold purpose: first, as acall-box to be rung by hand to summon a messenger from a centraldistrict office or `othersuch service; second, as a-thermostat to send asignal automatically to a central office when a predetermined high anddangerous degree of temperature is reached; third, as a thermostat togive automatically to persons on the premises an alarm or warning of alower but still dangerous degree of temperature, and, fourth, as aninstrument to be rung by hand in case the fire is discovered before theheat has Y greatly increased or had time to effect an automatic alarm.

I accomplish my object by making a callbox A, having clock-work, whichconsists of a mainspring B, gears C D E F, and a Wheel l G,with notchesto indicate numbers, the whole being Wound by a winding-stem Il, onwhich is a fixed crank K, which appears on the front face of the box A.On the face of this box A, I place another or supplemental face L,preferably of hard rubber, andsecure it by two or more screws M N orother fastenings. In the central point O in this outer face I place aregulating-screw P, which projects through an opening in the inner faceto the inside of the box. This screw P, when properly adjusted, servesas a detent to engage with a pin R, fixed in the winding-stem I-I andextending therefrom about an inch. When the outer face L of the box isparallel with the inner face A and lying closely against the latter, theregulating-screw P engages with the pin R, fixed in the winding-stem H,and prevents the clock-work from running down. In this condition thecall-box is used simply as a messenger-'call or for other similarservice and the screw P serves as a stop to limit the movement of-thestem to a part of a revolution; but when the surface of the outer face Lis heated, as occurs when fire breaks out in a room, or when the heatbecomes dangerous, the outer face of the box warps and bows outward,thereby withdrawing the point of the screw P from contact with the pin Rand allowing the clock-work to run entirely down. When, therefore, thewindingstrem H makes a single or partial revolution, it is known thatthe alarm ory signal is given by hand and that its motion is arrested bythe screw P; but when the Winding-stern II makes several continuousrevolutions and the lalarm is repeated, as is the case when theclock-work runs down, it is evident that the screw P is withdrawn andthe signal anto- Amatically given `by a dangerous degree of heat or by aperson intending to send in a firealarm. The degree of heat at which thesignal is given is regulated bythe amount of inward projection of theregulating-screw P.

In order to guard against the danger of a false or needless alarm, thescrew P is set so as to disengage itself from the pin R only at acomparatively high andvery dangerous degrec of temperature.

The thermostat call-box is connected by a circuit-wire S with an alarmand registeringor other heat-signaling apparatus-at a district office,or the wire may connect with the fire department, as may be desired. Inthis `way the second purpose of the thermostat call-box :isaccomplished.

The third use or purpose alluded to is accomplishedby the followingadditional feai ture of the apparatus: In the `outer face L of the boxthere is situated asecond regulatingscrew T, the point of which pushesagainst a metalspring U, placed on the inner face of the box, butinsulated from electric connectionwith the boxA `One wire V of an opencircuit is attached to this :insulated spring U and the other wire V toanother metal strip IOO WV, insulated from the box A. YvVhen the outerface of t-he box Awarps from the effect of dangerous heat, as alreadydescribed, the points or ends of the springs U and W are broughttogether and an electric circuit completed, which is arranged so as toring an alarm, free an annunciator-drop, or eitect such other signalingdevices as may be desired. It is intended that this low degree ofwarning alarm shall be placed on the premises to be protected, and thatit should be set to ring at a lower degree of temperature than the alarmsituated at the main office or the lire department, thus giving those onthe premises the lirst alarm or Warning and the opportunity ofv makingan escape from the premises imperiled or, when it is possible, ofputting out the lire without the lire department being summoned. Il",however, a lire is discovered and at. once seen to be dangerous, adecided pull on the outer face L of the boX releases theregulating-screw P from the pin R on the winding-stem H and sends in thetire-alarm without waiting for it to be given automatically by the heat.Thus the thermostat call-box accomplishes its fourth purpose.

Vhat I claim as my invention is-V l. In an automatic fire-alarmapparatus, the combination of awindable call mechanism controlledmanually and by a warping thermostat having a pin, which in the normalposition of the thermostat engages with somelpart ofthe windable callmechanism, and thereby .prevents its operation,but which upon thewarping ol' the said thermostat is withdrawn from the said mechanism andallows the same to run down and give an alarm, substantially asspecified. v

2. In 'a fire-alarm apparatus, a windable call mechanism controlledmanually and by a warping thermostat, combined with a series ofsignaling mechanisms, one of which is connected with the windable callmechanism, whereby a signal may be transmitted automatically ormanually, and the others of said series are independent of the windablecall mechanism and operated by the thermostat, substantially asspeciiied.

v 3. In a fire-alarm apparatus, a windable call mechanism adapted to be`controlled manually and a warping thermostat adjacent thereto, combinedwith a series of signaling mechanisms, one of whichis connected to thewindable call mechanism, whereby a signal may be transmitted manually,adjustable connections between the others of said series and thethermostat and. between the thermostat and the-windable call mechanism,whereby signals maybeautomaticallytransmittedthrough all of the seriesof signaling mechanisms, the said connections being so arranged that asignal may be transmitted through one signaling mechanism in advanceot`the other, 'substantially as specified.

4E. In combination with awindable call mech-V anism and an independentelectric circuit comprising an alarm, a warping plate or face securedeXteriorly of the said Windable call mechanism, with a pin, Vwhich inthe normal state of the said warping-plate colnes in contact with somepart of the said call mechanism, and thereby prevents the operation ofthe same, and a circuit breaker or closer operated from the saidwarping-plate,which in the distortion of the same by the application ot'heat thereto opens or closes the circuit and p roduces an alarm,substantially as specified.-

VILLARD G. DAY.

Witnesses:

DANL FISHER, JN0. T. MADDoX.

